Reeling apparatus for moving-picture cameras.



w. M. THOMAS\ REEUNG APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED 0:c.2a. m4. I

Patented 001;. 30, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. M. THOMAS.

REELING APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28.1914.

Patented Oct. 30,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

.QA A AA a Wu. A \u N Q, .MOJ l f Patented Oct. 30,1917.

W. M. THOMAS.

REELING APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS.

A APPLICATION FILED DEC; 28 1914. 1,244,918.

wane/aces:

w. M. THOMAS.

REELING APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28.19M.

1,244,91 Patented Oct. 30,1917.v

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Wane/we o w. MTHOMAS. REEHNG APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS.

Patented 0st. 30,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Y APPLICATQO N FILED DEC. 28' I914- To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM M. inomxs, a citizen of the United States,residing. at

New York city, in the county of N eW York and State of-New York, haveinvented new I and'useful Improvements in Reeling Appatime exposures)that is as readily and is arranged to be driven or actuated at a ratusfor Moving-Picture Cameras, of which 1 the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in- W fihn reeling apparatus formoving picture cameras and has particular reference to film magazinehaving mounted therein a movable frame, carrying a ser es of filmreception spools adapted to receive the standard film reels, said frameand spools being so ar-. ranged relative to one another that the wmd- Vmg *a'ndunwinding of-{a film thereon displaces substantially the entirearea of the magazine, and during such winding and unwinding, from onespool to another,- dis:

place the area' of space taken up by the original position of the filmwound on the inserted reel.'

By utilizing a film winding and unw nding means, such as disclosed, amoving picv ture machine is' obtained of approximately 'uarter) thesize'and weight of any (one ore known type of machine, and proheretovides a device for taking moving pictures as wella's Stlll pictures(both instantaneous and portable as the present well knowntype of handkodak or hand camera. A suitable mecha- V msm or actuating means to takemoving pictures'forms part of the devicefasa whole,

controlled by an'oper'ator of the device, pro

vidi'i'i'g'a moving picture act'uatingineans re- "qui'riiig theattention of only a single and inexperienced operator. j

, described inconnec- I tion with the accoinpai'iying drawings oneembodiment o'f'the invention the features thereof :being moreparticularly pointed the following is out hereinafter in the clainis.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reelcontaining magazine, illustrating in connection therewith an auxiliarycompartment -or'magazine attached thereto, containing suitable mechanismfor taking moving pictures, and means for actuating the same, the framecarrvme' the winding and unwinding spools Specification of LettersPatent. Patntedoct; 3Q, 1917, 1 Application filed nece nberas, 1914.Serial n. 379,342.

thei ein pcri'niiting the movement, of one of the winding spools, theother spool which engages said aforesaid spool being station.- j; my andengagingan idler spoohwhich lat- .te spool is driven by the film feedingrollg j" an film magazine, and elevation of the camera mechanism andlens, said film' magazine," having mounted therein and swinging pendantfrom its pivotal support a frame having f, mountedwin its lower portionstationary, Z spools, one of saidspools being driven fi-oin the filmfeeding roll, the position of said gamma errana'rosron MOVING-PICTURECAMERAS.

being provided with meansadapted to permit of the movement of both saidframe and one of said spools in;said framepand the driving of both ofsaid spools from the feeds ing rolls, .film as moved the vposition andtension of the] the film on said spools being in frictional engagement,with

from the film feeding rolls; Fig. 4 is a lon-' gitudinal sectional viewof the film maganisni casing, the spool supporting frame being movablein its magazine on its pivotal I having means formed f support, saidframe Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spools being. so'ar'ranged that during the unwindingand winding thereof they do notcontact one another; Fig. 6 is a longitudii nal sectional view of thefilm magazine and;

elevation ofthe camera compartment, show- 11 ing the vapplication insaid filincompartment of two stationary spoolsand an idler spool, theunwindingand winding spoolsbeing in frictional contact gWltll oneanother. and as-xv sisted in their rotation by means of a belt drivefrom one spool to another; Fig. 7 is a modified type of film magazineshowing two by said feeding, rolls being maintained by a pairofcompensating,rolls,

each other during the winding and unwinding thereof; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the film, niagazine and the cameramechanism magazine in a elevation, illustrating the, frame as movable 1showing the;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal secj tional view of the film magazine and anelevation of the cameramcchanism, the frame 75 in said magazine beingmovable on itspivotal support, and the film spool stationary] therein,one of said spools being driven zine and an, elevation of the cameramechastationary spools mounted on astationar'yuo frame, said spoolshaving mounted thereon pulleys driven from one to the other; F1 8 is avertical cross sectional view of the lm magazine, showing the relativeposition therein of the swinging frame movable on its pivotal support,carrying the winding and unwinding spools, and film driving rolls andcompensating rolls, together with the pulleys on the spindles'lor shaftsof said spools, and the connecting spindle end for receiving aconnection from the camera mechanism for actuating all of said spools;Fig. 9 is a plan view of the spool supporting frame; and Fig. 10 is anelevation of the spool I driving pulleys and the pawl and ratchetcontrol for the pulleys on the windin and unwinding spools.

i imilar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawings (1) designates a film magazine or compartment which maybe I made of any suitable material applicable therefor, having suitablyattached thereto 'an auxiliary casing or compartment (2) provided at itscenter with openings (3 and having mounted on the face thereof, inalinementwith said openings (3) a lens (4), and on the top a sight glass(5) for focusing an object to be taken. (6) indicates a bearing on theface of compartment (2) and has mounted therein a shaft (7) havingmounted on the inside end thereof a wheel or rotating shutter (8) havingcut therein an aperture (9), adapted to travel across the visional lineof the openings (3) when rotated, said shaft (7) has also cut in theouter end a square hole (10) adapted to receive a correspondinglyshafted head (11) on the end of a flexible shaft (12) which may becovered'in any suitable manner, said flexible shaft being actuated torotate said shutter by any suitable means. Said wheel(8) has mountedtherein in an eccentric position a stud (13) having mounted therein oneend of a spring (14) the other end thereof being mounted in sliding androcking head (15 operative vertically on guide rods (16) mounted inbrackets (17) on compartment (2), said head (15)l1aving pivotallymounted therein at 18) arms (19) provided at their upper ends with claws(20) adapted to engage the feed holes on the side of a film. Magazine(1) and compartment (2) I are preferably hinged together and saidmagazine (1) has cut therein a slot (21) adapted to receive a blindslide or shutter (22) for keeping out the light or preventing the filmfrom being light struck during the idle position of the camera or thedischarging and charging of the film nmgazine.

The front wall of magazine .(1) has cut therein an aperture (23) andslots (24) over and through which the film passes andimmediatelyadjacent said aperture :1 pressure plate (25) controlled bysprings (26) for pressing the film against the back wall of compartment(2) permitting claws (20) to engage the holes in said film and feed samewhen actuated. I V

(27) designates a supporting frame pivotally mounted on shaft (28) whichis mounted in a bearing (29) fastened in the film (33). Frame (27) hasmounted thereon above and beneath feed roll (31) compensating rolls (34)adapted toplaoe a tore on said. film (33) and press same into engagementwith roll (31) and at the same time take up any unnecessary slack orlost motion in said film, and to further assist the free and easymovement of the film (33) from'the feeding or unwinding spool (35)carrying the body of the film, saidspool (35) has mounted therein studs(36) operative and movable vertically in slots (37) in 'said frame (27),one of said studs (36) hav-' ing mounted thereon a pulley (38). Thedepending arm (39) of frame (27) has mounted therein a winding orreceiving spool (40) adapted to engage the periphery of the body of film(33) on spool (35) and has also mounted on one of the studs (41) apulley (42), all of said pulleys 30-38 and 42 having mounted thereon aflexible tension belt (43) for assisting in the unwinding and winding ofthe film '(33), the friction caused by reason of the engagement of thebody of the film roll and the winding of said film on said spool (40)which engages an idler spool (44) mounted in 21 depending casing (45)and attached tomagazine (1), together with the weight of the pivotedframe (27), permits of the steadying movement of the film duringthe'course of taking a series of pictures over the seriesof rolls andspools, and provides a film winding and unwinding means within a smallorlimited space wherein the same area taken up by the initial or unusedfilm roll; is displaced by the Winding up of said film;

after a series of pictures have been projected thereon. Pulleys (3S) and(42) have associated therewith ratrhets (46) adapted to be engaged bypuwls (47) for holding the film under tension on the unwinding andwinding spools (35) and (40) when the operative parts of the camera areidle;

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the frame (27) is pivoted on shaft (23) butspools and (40) are both rigid on studs (48), the centers of which areset at greater distances apart to permit of the unwinding a dwindsubstantially the same Fig. i, the structure is the ing that shaft{28} and idler spool (44) have mounted thereon pulleys connected anddriven by a belt In Fig. i'frame (27) is pivotally mount-ed and dependsfrom shaftQS}, and has formed thereon arms (51) having stationarilymounted therein the unwinding" and winding spools and (53), one of saidspools in this case (53) carrying a pulley to receive a driving belt(54). In F 6 of the drawings both unwinding spool and winding spool (56)are stationary or rigid in the frame or wall of magazine (1), and havemounted on their studs (57) pulleys ca Tying a crossed belt drive (58)obviating in this instance the use of feeding ano compensating rolls andexcess or added actuating means; and in T stationary frame (59) ismounted in magazine (1) having rigidly mounted therein unwhidingspool(60) and winding spool (31), spaced apart sufficiently to perunit of theunreeling' of all of the film from one spool to the other insubstantially the same space, each of said spools carrying pulleyshaving mounted thereon a drive belt (62) and guide rolls (63) andmounted on magazine (1) over which the film passes during the unreelingand reeling thereof.

It is obvious that the device as herein shown and described may bearranged to operate in numerous ways and the same may be limited andenlarged in other ways without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

lVhat is claimed and what is desired by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a magazine, a. framepivotally mounted therein, spools mounted in said frame, a supportingidler spool, a film mounted on said spools, feeding roll, compensatingrolls, a film mounted on said spools and engaging; said rolls, and meanspermitting the unwinding; and winding of said film on said spools withinthe same space displaced by the spool. carrying the body of said film.

2. A device of the character described comprisinga reception. magazine,a supporting frame mounted in and movable within said magazine, 'poolsmoiuited in. said frame, a feeding roll, tension rolls, a film carriedby one of said spools engaging said feeding and said tension rolls, anidler spool, means for driving said feeding roll, means for driving saidspools, and means permitting the unginding and. winding of said film onsaid snoois by the engagement the periphery 9f thebody roll of said filmwith said winding spool and of the engagement of said film with saididler spool, means for driving the spools carried by said frame, andmeans for actuating said feeding roll to unwind and wind said film onsaid spools, the passage of said film from one spool to the otherthereof being in substantially the reception area of said magazine.

3. A device of the character described comprising a reception magazine,a ;supporting frame mounted in and movable within said magazine, spoolsmounted in said frame, a feeding roll, tension-rolls, a film carried byone of said spools engaging said feeding and said tension rolls, anidler spool, means for driving said feedingmoll, means for driving saidspools, and means permitting the unwinding and winding of said filmonsaid spools by the engagement of the periphery of the body roll of saidfilm with said windingspool and of the engagement. of said film withsaid idler spool, means for driving the spools carried by said frame,and means for actuating said feeding roll to unwind and wind said filmon said spools, the passage of said film from one spool to the otherthereof being in .substantially the reception area. of said magazine, bythe means of the movement of said frame in said magazine and themovement of one of said spools in said frame.

4. A device of the character described comprising a reception magazine,a supporting frame pivotally mounted therein, winding and unwindingspools mounted in said frame, a feeding roll, compensating rolls, anidler supporting spool, a film mounted on said winding and unwindingspools, all of said spools and rolls being in direct alinement with oneanother.

5. A device of the character described comprising a magazine, a framemovably mounted therein, a film Winding and unwinding means mounted insaid frame, a film feeding means, a film tension means, a film windingsupporting means, means for actuating said feeding means, means foractuating said winding and unwinding means from said feeding means, andmeans permitting the winding-and unwinding of said film in the spacerequired by a single film roll, by means of the movement of said framein said magazine and the movement of unwinding means in said frame.

6. A device of the character described comprising a magazine, a framepivotally mounted therein, spools mounted in said frame, feeding roll,compensating rolls, a film mounted on said spools and eng'agin saidrolls, and means permitting the unwinding and winding of saidjfilm onsaid spools within the space displaced by the and means for actuatingsaid film feeding means.

7. A device of the character described comprising a reception magazine,a frame pivotally mounted therein and movable with relation thereto, aseries of spools mounted in said frame in alinement with each other, anda film carried by one of said spools adapted to be wound on the other ofsaid spools Within the same space required by said first-mentioned spoolcarrying the body of said film in combination with an auxiliary casingfastened to said magazine and havin giounted therein mechanism forfeeding said 8. A device of the character described comprising amagazine, means pivotally mounted-therein, film spools mounted upon saidmeans, a supporting roll for said means, a film mounted upon saidspools, a feeding roll for said film, and means for holding the saidfilm in engagement with said feeding roll, said pivotal means permittingthe Winding and unwinding of said film upon said spools Withinsubstantially the same space as is displaced by the spool carryingpractically the entire body of the film,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM M. THOMAS.

In the presence of:

E. E. HAINES, W. J. LLEWELLYN.

